Chapter Thirty-Three – Ready to Come in the World

Adonis III; Bumblebee's Quarters

Nightfall, A Couple Weeks Later…

"Bumblebee, wake up, Soldier."

The yellow mech whirred groggily, lifting his head from the cool metal berth to focus his electric blue optics into those of Optimus', his vision still blurry from his sleep.

"Hmm?" he said sleepily.

The commander's image sharpened through his optics. "Bumblebee, get up, Son."

Bumblebee closed his optics again and let his head fall, feeling Darren squirm in a nook of his chest armor, and Arcee shift beneath his arms.

"Huh?" he said in a yawn.

Optimus set a hand against Bumblebee's shoulder. "Come out into the hall."

Bumblebee groaned, whirring indifferently. Optimus' optics flared softly.

"Bumblebee…" he droned.

"I know, I know." The mech gently set Arcee onto the berth, taking Darren from his chest and sitting him against Arcee's spark. He rose to his feet, following Optimus out into the hallway. He blinked many times, still waking up.

"What is it, Sir?" he said, a little angry that he'd been disturbed from recharge, yet again.

Optimus sighed. "I would like to talk to you, Bumblebee."

The mech yawned. "About what?"

"Your near future with Arcee. I want you to be fully aware of what's coming up."

Bumblebee nodded slowly, looking through droopy optics at his commander.

"Alright, Sir," he agreed softly. "But, did you have to do it at this hour?"

Optimus gave him a look. "This is the only available moment I've been given since all of us were in Ratchet's quarters," he said with a small smile. "You knew that."

Bumblebee grunted.

Sighing, the commander nodded. "Now, you do know Arcee could have the sparklings anytime soon?"

Bumblebee nodded dazedly. "I do know that, but I'm not quite sure how soon."

The commander nodded, adverting his optics from Bumblebee's for a moment. "You see, son, this is why I called you out here. I knew you weren't completely sure about everything approaching Arcee and you in the near future."

Bumblebee cocked his head, looking down. "Well, y-yeah, I don't…I'm not…"

"You have questions," Optimus said with a smile, setting a hand on Bumblebee's shoulder. "I want you to ask me, and I'll do the best I can to answer them."

The younger mech smiled. "Yes, Sir. Thanks."

He nodded. "Now, about when the sparklings should be delivered," mused Optimus. "I would expect in a couple of weeks. Probably less than that."

"Doesn't that seem a little too soon?"

"Bumblebee, the two sparks in Arcee's chamber are feeding off energy from not only hers and yours, but all of the Autobots here as well whenever we're near, for we do have a connection with you, thus giving you more energy to support the sparklings with…Even Darren's heart somehow radiates some sort of energy through the bond he has with you."

"…And that gives me more energy to support Arcee with, which supports the sparklings," the younger mech said, trying not to confuse himself. "Right?"

Optimus nodded. "That's correct."

Bumblebee tilted his head to the other side, making a face as he scratched his head. "I-I think I get it…It's all so confusing."

Optimus chuckled. "Yes, it is a lot, Bumblebee. But, you seem to understand it well."

He nodded, smiling. "Y-Yeah…Thanks."

The commander dropped his hand from the younger mech's shoulder with a wider smile. "Is there anything that…makes you nervous at all?"

Bumblebee whirred, thinking. "I haven't really thought or…noticed anything that makes me nervous. No, Sir."

"You're excited to be fathering two sparklings, I'm sure."

Bumblebee grinned. "Oh, you bet, Sir," he said excitedly. "I can't wait to hold one of them in my arms..."

Optimus smiled at him. "Yes, it's been far too long since any of us have seen a sparkling, let alone a baby bot in a femme's chamber."

"I don't think I'd seen any at all before I saw ours," said Bumblebee.

The commander chuckled. "Yes, but you're still young," he told him, moving a gentle arm around the yellow mech's shoulders. "You're not well in your years just yet."

Bumblebee let the commander draw him against him and, whirring happily, he nuzzled his head into the towering mech's side. Optimus fingers brushed along his arm lightly.

"Any more questions, my little one?" Optimus asked in a soft whisper.

Bumblebee shook his head. "No, Sir."

"Alright, then," he said. "Bumblebee, you will make an excellent father to your sparklings. I know you will, son."

The younger mech felt his spark flutter through their bond. Optimus surely felt this too, as his optics flared warmly into Bumblebee's. The younger mech grinned.

"Thank you, Sir," he smiled.

"Anytime, my solider. After all," he tapped Bumblebee's spark, watching the mech's optics upturn, "…you have one great, big spark inside there."

Bumblebee whirred and hugged Optimus around his middle, smiling even wider.

"Optimus, thank you."

"No need," he told him warmly. "Now, go on. Return to recharge for tomorrow."

Bumblebee nodded, obediently walking toward his quarters. "Yes, Sir."

Who knew what the next day could bring.

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

Late Afternoon.

One Week Later…

Arcee lay in her love's arms, both of them in their human protoform in a corner of the room, every light dimmed, truly romantic. She leaned her head back against his hard chest, feeling his spark beat, tears of joy in her eyes.

"Bumblebee, I can't believe this," she said, stroking her pregnant belly with a hand. "I'm carrying twins…"

Just those words seemed surreal.

Bumblebee purred, his own hand rubbing her bloated belly slowly, making the babies inside her kick and squirm. Arcee laughed, tucking her head in his neck. She kissed his throat and felt his chin lift away and sit against the other side of her head.

"Zaidian and Xylastar," he whispered in her ear, his eyes a soft flare of blue into hers.

"Twins," she breathed.

Arcee shivered at the smoothness of his voice, grazing her fingers along his stomach. He chuckled with her, purring at her gently, letting her slide her fingers across his neck and feel the throaty sounds he made. She gave him a soft kiss on his chin.

"Primus, Bee," she breathed. "I feel like I'm living in a dream."

Bumblebee's fingers continued stroking her belly. "It does seem too good to be true."

She sighed. "I know, baby…"

A small moment of silence.

"Arcee, thank you for choosing me as your sparkmate," he said softly. She looked at him and there was no smile on his face. He looked serious. "I know it was probably hard for you to…depart from Hot Rod. You'd been with him for quite some time."

Arcee shook her head. "Baby, don't thank me," she said. "I knew you were mine from the moment you held me. Your spark had that charm that his didn't."

Bumblebee looked away, twisting his lip. Arcee blinked.

"Bumblebee?"

He looked down.

"Honey, what's wrong?" she asked.

"I dunno," he said in a mutter. "I just feel bad for him, baby. He lost the greatest femme in the universe. I hope you didn't force yourself to love me…out of sympathy."

Arcee shook her head quickly. "Bee, no. No, I didn't. I've loved you."

He looked at her.

"And, Baby, please. Don't worry about Rod. He's my business. I'll take care of him."

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" the man asked quietly, his eyes flashing.

"No, he didn't," she answered. "But, Bumblebee, please. Don't feel bad." She snuggled against his chest, feeling his chin sit on the top of her head. "Alright? You didn't steal me, it was my spark's decision for me to be yours." She smiled. "With you, my destiny is the best."

He nodded slowly. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I'm just - "

"You're too nice," Arcee finished for him as she lifted her arms around his neck. Bumblebee chuckled, moving an arm around her middle.

"Yes, I suppose that's right." His soft lips kissed her forehead and his fingers continued to work magic on her belly. The twins inside her squirmed again.

"I think they're saying, 'Hi,' to us," Arcee whispered.

Playfully, Bumblebee waved at her stomach. "Hello, Xylastar, Zaidian."

Arcee giggled, pressing her cheek into his chest as his large hand slid smoothly against her round stomach, his fingers tickling her. His cheek rested on her head as he chuckled, his laughter reverberating under her ear. She heard his thrumming spark, getting lost in its beating, hearing him breathe with her. She couldn't help, but let her spark press against his, their enticing pulses quivering excitedly through their bond.

"Oh, Bumblebee," she groaned. "I love you too much, baby."

He purred, rattling her. "Oh, but I love you more, beautiful."

Arcee giggled. "No, I love you more."

"I love you more," he chuckled.

"Noo, I love you mo - " She was silenced with a hard kiss to her mouth and she giggled as his tongue slipped in, massaging against hers roughly, but pleasurably. She moaned in his mouth as his hot breath entered her and he did the same. He grinned as his lips moved away.

"Now, what was that I heard?" he laughed.

Arcee tucked her head in his neck. "I love you more," she giggled. "And you know it."

Bumblebee laughed, shaking his head as he pressed her against him.

"Such a silly femme," he whispered, grinning ear-to-ear.

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

Another Week Ahead

Wooded Area Surrounding the Adonis III

Darren held on to a plate of Bumblebee's yellow shoulder armor, not wanting to lose balance and tumble off as the mech continued to walk slowly through the woods. He smiled at Bumblebee who turned his baby blue optics at him, each one upturning as they fixed on the human boy. He lifted a finger to Darren's head, messing with his bangs until they fell softly across his forehead.

"Bee, quit it," laughed Darren, grinning as the mech's finger dug softly into his cheek.

Bumblebee purred, giving Darren's side a gentle nudge before pulling it away with a wider smile. Darren chuckled and leaned against the mech's jaw, taking in the fresh afternoon air. He closed his eyes for a moment, the mech's slow walking strays soothing him.

Bumblebee gave Arcee's hand a tiny squeeze and she looked up at him, smiling. Darren made a face at them and shook his head.

"Such love birds, aren't you?" he chuckled.

Bumblebee gave him a look. "I wouldn't say a thing after what I saw your human significant other and you doing that one afternoon."

Darren blushed. "It's called a kiss, Bumblebee," he said, still smiling. "You do it too."

Bumblebee grunted playfully, his optics flashing as he smiled.

"Yes, well - "

"Ohh!"

Bumblebee's optics turned to Arcee as she groaned painfully, a hand on her spark chamber. She had stopped walking next to him and her knees trembled, her frame shuddering.

"Arcee!" He exclaimed.

"Ah…!" she cried out, falling against a tree. "B-Bumblebee…!"

The mech instantly moved to her, moving his protecting arms around her securely. He let her lean against him, hoping the thrums of his spark would somehow help her. It did nothing and he whirred worriedly, hoisting her against him stronger. Darren watched with wide eyes, his face showing worry just like Bumblebee's.

"A-Arcee?" the human murmured nervously. "God, what happened all of a sudden?"

Bumblebee watched her. "Honey, what's wrong?" he asked desperately. "Baby talk to me. Sat anything."

Arcee breathed awkwardly, her pale optics looking up at him innocently. "M-My spark…" she whispered, groaning. "…S-Sparklings…M-Mine's f-fading."

Bumblebee didn't hesitate at all when he heard, "fading." Gently, he took her up in his arms, moving quickly toward the base. Darren held onto his armor plates tighter, confused and worried for his Bumblebee.

"Dad, what's going on?" he asked, squirming into a better position. "What happened?"

Bumblebee didn't respond for a couple seconds. "I'm not exactly sure." His voice was low, drenched in concern for his femme.

"Will she be alright?"

Silence. "She will." He didn't sound at all confident.

Arcee groaned and cried out, shivering as her spark struggled to beat. Bumblebee whirred nervously, trying to fight back tears that stung his optics at the sight of his femme hurt. He leaned down and kissed her cheekplate, feeling her shake again. He shook his head.

"It's okay, baby," he cooed. "It's okay. I'm here. I'm here."